Abstract
Introduction: The prevalence of both Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and Tuberculosis (TB) is increasing. DM is a risk factor for TB, while TB will adversely affect DM's treatment. The co-infection is more prevalent in TB-endemic areas and among low socioeconomic populations than others.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional prospective observational study conducted at Kassala State in Sudan between March 2012 to March 2022, including 120 diabetic patients with tuberculous infected ulcers. The outcome measures were wound healing, response to anti-tuberculous drugs, and final treatment outcome.
Results: 120 patients participated, majority were males 66.7%, living in rural areas 75.0%, 70.0% were illiterate, have wounds in the foot 66.7% and 60.8% had their wounds healed in less than 60 days for healing. The mean duration of diabetes was 14 years. Age, gender, residence place, BMI, disease duration, hospital stay, and wound site were associated with wound healing, with a P value< 0.05. Gender (P= 0.002), residence (P > 0.001), and hospital stay (P > 0.001) made a significant contribution to the prediction of the duration of wound healing. For the response to anti-TB drugs, site of the wound, AAFB result, ESR level, and severity of PAD, HbA1c level were significant. For the final treatment outcome, residence, site of wound, severity of PAD, and HbA1c level were significant.
Conclusion: Factors affected wound healing were age, gender, residence, BMI, duration of infection, hospital stay, and wound site. For the response to anti-TB drugs and final treatment outcome, site of the wound, AAFB result, ESR level, severity of PAD, and HbA1c level residence, were the factors with significant impact.